Gradometer



Jan. 11, 1927. 1,613,776 V. R. NILL I GRADOMETER Filed July 15. 1925 INVENTOR Vicior R WJLLL ATTORN E Y such structure and relative arrangement of.

Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

UNITED, STATES PATENT orrlcn.

GRA DOMETER.

Application filed July 13, 1925. Serial No. 43,299.

This invention relates to grade indicating devices for motor vehicles, my principal object being to provide an extremely simple device for the purpose, in the form of an attachment easily applied to a vehicle in any suitable location, which will then accurately indicate the percentage of any grade which the car may be ascending or decend- Iinother object is to provide a device for the purpose having a pendulum arranged to removably support one of the cylindrical fuses commonly used in the ignitlon or lighting systems of automobiles. This has a double function. The device being mounted in the open, where it is within easy reach of the driver, the fuse is handy when it is needed to replace one burnt out, without the necessity of the driver having to hunt around in odd pockets and corners to locate this necessary accessory. Also the fuse 1mparts the necessary weight to the pendulum to insure that the same will hang and sw ng properly without the necessity of makmg the pendulum itself out of heavy materlal or of'permanently applying a weight thereto.

The device may therefore be made very cheaply without loss of efiiciency.

A further object is to make the body of the device, including the bracket means thereof, out of a single piece of blank sheet metal, while enabling the body to be supported from either a top bow; or any rigid longitudinal member of the car while mamtaining the body itself in the proper plane longitudinally of the car.

These objects I accomplish by means of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and clalms.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of'my device showing the bracket as bent for attachment to a vertical face of a top bow of a car and with the fuse in place.

Fig. 2 is a similar view wlth the fuse removed and with the bracket in a normal position or as manufactured.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the device.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference, the numeral 1 denotes a sector of suitable arcuate length and radius. from whose ends arms 2 converge radially to a junction wlth each other. A

' indicated in Fig. 1.

pendulum3 is mounted on a pin 4 which is disposed axially of the sector, said pendulum being pointed on its outer end as at 5 to properly register or point to the graduation 6 on the sector. These graduations are arranged to indicate grade percentages and read both ways from a common vertical zero or level mark disposed centrally of the sector. Above the arms is a normally fiat flange element 7 having a plurality of horizontally spaced orifices 8. This element joins onto the arms above the pin 4 with a relatively narrow neck 7 and is of somewhat flexible material. It may therefore be bent along a horizontal line A across the neck, or vertically asat B at either end of the neck as In this manner the entire'fiange may be bent so as to assume a horizontal plane while the sector itself 're mains in a vertical plane, or a portion of the flange may lie in a vertical plane transversely of the sector. f

The flange portion 7 I therefore forms a bracket which may abut against the under or vertical side of a top bow, or it maybe left as made to be placed fiat against any suitable longitudinal member on the car. In any case the arms and sector are not disturbed so that they will hang straight down. The device is preferably mounted to the right of the driver, with the graduated side of the sector facing toward him, and when so mounted must be maintained immovable.

This of course can easily be done by a screw placed through any of the holes 8 and screwed into the top bow or other member.

Since the sector is immovable relative to the vehicle, and extends longitudinally thereof, it will be seen that the pendulum, which of course tends to remain vertical, will indicate the grade of the road on which the car is travelling. V

The pendulum is made of a piece of sheet metal, and in order to increase its weight, I bend up horizontally spaced cradles or clips 9 on each side of the longitudinal plane thereof. These clips face outwardly of the sector and are disposed a short distance above the point 5. They are of substantially circular form to receive a spare fuse 10 of the standard size commonly used in automobile circuits. The clips are somewhat springy so as to frictionally engage and hold the fuse against movement, while permitting it to be easily withdrawn when necessary.

The additional weight imparted to the pendulum by the fuse gives the pendulum the necessary balance and prevents the same from possibly sticking against the sector. At the same time it allows of the use of light sheet metal in the manufacture of the pendulum, as above stated, while providing a support for the fuse where it can be conveniently reached.

When the fuse is Withdrawn from the pendulum another one should be placed therein immediately or as soon as possible so that it will be then ready for use. and the pendulum will be maintained properly weighted.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A gradometer for a motor vehicle comprising a graduated sector of sheet metal, a pendulum pivoted thereon and extensions on the sector arranged to be bent at any time at any angle to the sector to form flanges for attachment against a surface of a fixed member of the vehicle.

2. A gradometer for motor vehicles comprising a graduated sector, a pendulum pivoted in connection with the sector and arranged to point to the graduations thereon, and clips on the pendulum for removably engaging the exterior surface of a cylindrical object.

3. A gradometer for motor vehicles comprising a graduated sector, a pendulum pivoted thereon and arranged to point to the graduations, a transverse and normally flat flange above the sector and located in a common plane with the sector, and a rela tively narrow neck between the flange and sector; said flange and neck being formed of bendable material, whereby the flange maybe bent along the neck to lie at an angle to the sector, or said flange may be bent vertically at either end of the neck.

4. A gradometer for mot-or vehicles comprising a graduated sector, a pendulum pivoted thereon and arranged to point to the graduations, and spring clips formed in transversely spaced relation on the pendulum adjacent its lower end, said clips, and the pendulum in alinement therewith, being substantially circular in cross section with a restricted opening at the top, whereby to receive and frictionally engage a cylindrical object.

.5. A gradometer for motor vehicles comprising a graduated sector, a pendulum pivoted thereon and arranged to point; to the graduations thereof, and spring clips to removably embrace and support a cylindrical object, mounted in transversely spaced relation on the pendulum adjacent its lower en In testimony whereof I my signature.

VICTOR R. WILL, 

